Hispasat to Announce Amazonas RFP

Hispasat S.A., Madrid, has agreed to extend a request for proposal (rfp) for the construction and launch of the, “Amazonas” satellite, scheduled to be launched into orbit late in 2003 to the 61º W orbital slot. Hispasat is soliciting for a satellite, having a service life of at least fifteen years, to operate in the C- and Ku-bands, and expected to have a 5 metric tonne mass. The satellite will offer trans-Atlantic and pan-American capacity, providing coverage to North and South America, Europe and Northern Africa.

The investment for the project is Euros 300.5 million euros of which US$213 million (Euros 240.4 million) is planned for the construction of the satellite and launch. Euros 60 million will be used to build a control station for the satellite in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hispasat has secured an eight-year loan of Euros 30 million from the Spanish Official Credit Institute to cover some of the costs associated with setting up a Latin American affiliate to manage Amazonas. Telemar, of Brazil, is a partner in the project.

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